Improvement in horse-detachers



- Joppa, in the county of Massac, and in the part of this specification, in which- UNITED STATESPATENT QFFIGE.

REVILO H. OAKES, OF JOPPA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-DETACHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,961, dated May 27, 1879; application iiled March 13, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REVILo H. Onxns, of

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Detaching Horses from Vehicles; and do here by declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a Figure l is a perspective view of my device as attached to the front end of a wagon and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper side of the equalizer-bar, the full lines showing the positions of the locking-bars when the whiffletrees are attached, and the dotted lines the positions of said bars when said whiffletrees are detached.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The design of my invention is to enable horses to be easily and quickly detached from a vehicle, when such action is necessary, in order to prevent injury to the same or its occupants, to which end it consists, principally, in the means employed for operating the locking-bars, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

It consists, further, in the apparatus as a whole, its several parts being constructed and combined to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A represents an equalizer-bar, which has the usual length, and is pivoted centrally to or upon the runnin ggear of a wagon in any usual form.

Fitted loosely within metal eyes B, which are secured within and extend upward from the upper side of the equalizer-bar A, at each side of its center, is a round metal bar, 0, that is capable of longitudinal motion within said eyes, and atits outer end extends horizontally forward, then downward in front of the end of said equalizer-bar A, and thence horizontally outward in a line with the latter, the end 0 of said bar 0 being contained within two metal eyes, D, that are secured within and project forward from the end of said equalizerbar A.

The space between the eyes D is sufficient to permit of the insertion of the clevis c of a WlllfflGtlGO, E. after which a longitudinally-outward movement of the bar 0 will cause its end 0 to pass through said clevis and through said eyes D, in which position said bar end 0 operates as a pivotal bearing for said whit'fletree.

The method of attachment described is intended to permit of the instant liberation of the whiffletrees when desired, such result being obtained by moving the bars 0 longitudinally inward until their ends 0 are withdrawn from the clevises e; and in order that the said movement of the said locking-bars may be easily and quickly produced, the following-described means are employed:

Upon the inner end of each bar 0 is provided a plate, 0, having a central longitudinal slot, 0, which is formed upon a circular line, having for its center the pivotal bearing of the equalizer-bar A.

Within each slot 0 is loosely fitted one end of a lever, F, which from thence extends upward, and at or near its longitudinal center is pivoted upon the front end of the box or other convenient part, and is capable of oscillation in a vertical plane having a right angle to the longest diameter of the wagon.

The lower end of the lever F is connected with the slotted plate 0 in such manner as to permit it to move freely lengthwise of the slot 0, but not to be withdrawn from said slot.

A spring, G, having, preferably, a C shape, is secured to and extends between the levers F, midway between their lower ends and pivotal bearings, and operates to hold said ends and the locking-bars O at the outer limit of motion, so as to insure the engagements of the ends 0 with the whiffletree clevises c, and at the same time permits of the disengagement of said parts by the outward movement of the upper ends of said levers whenever desired.

The device is now complete, and operates as'follows, viz: To connect the whiffletrees E, the bars 0 are moy'ed inward until the clevises 6 can be passed between the eyes D, after which said bars are released and are restored to their normal position by the action of the spring-Gr.

The curved slots 0 enable the equalizer-bar A to oscillate freely upon its axis and insure the perfect connection between the bars 0 and levers F, whatever the position of said equalizer-bar.

When it is desired to detach the horses, the

upper ends of the levers F are grasped by the driver and are moved apart, by which movement the locking-bars O are withdrawn from engagement with the whiffletree-clevises, and said whiffletrees are allowed to follow the horses.

When the apparatus is used for one horse, it is applied directly to the whiffletree, and the traces are attached in place of the whiffletrees described. If desired, the shafts may be connected with the axle by said apparatus, instead of applying it to the whiffletree.

This apparatus enables a wagon to be stopped whenever the driver loses control of his horses, and furnishes a convenient and inexpensive means whereby most of the danger and injury usually caused by runaway accidents may be avoided.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1s 1. In combination with the locking-bars G 0, provided with the slotted plates 0 c, thelevers F, pivoted vertically upon a suitable support, and at their lower ends engaging with; the slots 0 of said bars, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

2. The hereinbeforedescribed apparatus, in which the equalizer-bar A, provided with the eyes B and D, the locking-bars 0, having the engaging ends 0 and curved slots 0, the levers Rand the springG are combined and arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of March, 187 9.

REVILO H. OAKES.

Witnesses:

'WILLIAM J. Yos'r, JOHN W. PETER. 

